Insect exterminator



Nov. 14, 1939.

v L. s.-wEBB INSECT EXTERMINATOR Filed March 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1939. L s, WEBB INSECT EXTERMINATOR Filed March 13,1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS staand et., nl'.9 is

l u1-1 S. Webb, Midland, Tex.

,riait Application March 13, 1939, SeriahNo. 261,534

My invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for exterminatinginsects.

An important object oi my invention is the provision .of an insectexterminator that will em- 5 caciously operate on a great variety ofplants to iree them oi' such insect parasites as boll weevils, cornearworms, boll worms, coddling moths, cotton ilea hoppers, and the like.

i other object oi my invention is the provilil sion of a device thatwill clean and rejuvenate overdowed crops as well as rid them of theirinsect pests.

liet another object oi my invention is the provision oi an insecterterator that'is adapted to operate upon several rows of plantssimultaneously.,

Still another object oi my invention is the provision of an insectexterminator that is durable in its construction and emcient andemcacious 2@ in its operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.l

ln the drawings, iorming a part of this specirlcation, and in whichlilre numerals are employed to designate lilre parts throughout thesame, l

Figure l is a side elevation oi` a device embodying my invention, y

30 Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the same,

Figure il is a. iront elevation of a collector disc and fan, embodying apart oi my invention,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalyiew, taken on 35 the line ii-i oiFigure d,

l e l e: e 6 is a vertical sectional view of a blower ian, embodying apart of my invention, and

Figure 'I is a perspective view oi a supporting trame adapted to be used'in association with my.

to device..

in the accompanying drawings, wherein lfor the psc oi illustration, isshown a preferred ement ent of my invention, the numeral it designatesasupporting trame constructed of angle irons, or the like, which carriesthe various coacting parts embodying my invention. The frame ill is ofsubstantially square formation in plan and is provided at substantiallyits middle with o a pair loi detachable wheels ii. The wheels ll arespaced to'straddle a row of growing vegetation and may be laterallyadjustable to-properly accommodate varying widths of rows. The frame itis preferably ci sumcient width to overlie a. 55 plurality oi rows ofvegetation, and is here illus- (cl. rag-14o) trated as being capable oi'accommodating three rows simultaneously.

The forward part l2 of the frame l@ is provided with forwardlyprojecting Shanks il to which the bars It are pivotally secured by meansof 5 the pintles l5. The bars it are outwardly convergent and theirextremitiesare connected by the cross arm l5. 4A torlgue il is pivotallycarried by the cross arm itat substantially its middle and intermediateof the extremities of the l bars Ml. The steering arms lll are pivotallycarried by the tongue li a substantial distance from its point oiconnection to the cross arm. it and the outer ends thereof are connectedto the extremities of the said cross arm. by means of l the wheelsupporting rods i9. The upper ends of the vertically disposed rods itare bent laterally to form a guiding link 2d and the lower ends thereofreceive the front wheels il.

The frame it is formed adjacent its rear edge 22 with a pair of spacedtransversely positioned supporting bars 23 and 2t which carry the engineiii thereon. A transversely positioned supporting bar 2t is carried bythe frame adjacent the front i? and in spaced parallelism with the rear25 supporting members it and it. The longitudinally extending braces iland it connect the transverse supporting members it, Eiland it with therear edge 22, and a transverse web 2t connects the longitudinalsupporting braces il and it intermediate the supporting bars it and t@and in spaced parallelism therewith.

The vertically disposed bearing supports til and el are carried bythetransverse supporting bar 2d and web Zd at substantially the middle 35of the frame mand the main shaft 32 is journaled in horizontallyaligning openings adjacent the top thereof. A double belt pulley 33 iskeyed to the shaft 32 adjacent the vertical support 3l, and the hub illof the pulley is provided with radial teeth 35. The pulley it isslidably mounted on the shaft 32 and with the hub thereof provided withradial teeth 3l adapted to engage with the teeth 35 of the stationarypulley tt. V

The clutch actuating arm 38 is pivotally 45 mounted in an elongated slotin the transverse supporting bar 2t,v as at 2t', and the upper end 39thereof is formed with bifurcations til and tl which embrace the outerhub t2 of the slidable pulley St. The depending end til of the arm t8 50is connected to a manual operating handle td by the link d'5. The.handle M is pivotally attached to the edge of the operators platform ttwhich projects forwardly of the frame It intermediate of the bars it andcarries an operators seat il of conventional construction. It may thusbe seen that the operator may sit in the seat 51 and manually engage ordisengage the clutch in the main shaft 52. A belt 59 connects the powerpuliey 55 of the engine 25 and the slidable-pulley 36 to impart rotationthereto, and consequently to impart rotation to the main shaft 32 whenthe clutch face 31 is engaged with the companion clutch face 55 of thepulley 33.

A generator 50 is mounted on the web 28 and is driven from the doublepulley 33 by a belt 5|. The generator 50 supplies suicient electricpower to energize the lamps 52 carried by the frame l0 at either end ofthe forward part l2 thereof, and which permits the device to be operatedafter' darla,` if desired.

The transverse supporting bar 2S carries the spaced vertically disposedbearing arms 53, 5t, 55 and 55, and the bearing arms 53, 56 and 56extend a substantial distance below the plane of the frame l0, asillustrated in Figure 1. A jack shaft 51 is mounted for rotation inhorizontally aligning openings in the vertical supports 55 and 3i, andeither end 5&3 and 59 thereof extends beyoud the supporting arms 3| and55. 'I'he extending end of 50 of the jack shaft carries a v pulley 50and a driving belt 5| is entrained about the pulley 50 on the jack shaftand the double pulley on the drive shaft 32.

A transverse supporting bar 62 is maintained in space parallelism aboveythe forward edge I2 of the frame i0, Tand the rotary spankers 63, 60 and55 are mounted between the supporting bar 52 and the supporting bar 25.The spindles 66,

51 and't of the spankers coextend a substantial distance rearwardly ofthe supporting arm 25 "and pulleys 09,10 and 1| are firmly securedthereon. The spankers are formed with substantially circular end wallsbetween which radlally extending blades are mounted, and the spankersare uniquely npositioned in a manner whereby they will be directly overadjacent rows of vegetation when the device is in operation.

The campanular blower housings 12, 13 and 'i5 are suspended from theforward edge 2 of the frame i0 by-means of the brackets 15, 16 and 11,and the open sideof each of the blower housings is positioned so that itwill he adjacent one side of a row of vegetation when the device ismoved down the eld. The depending portions of the' vertical support 53,54 and 56 .carry rotatable shafts 10, 19 and 80, the inner ends of whichproject into the blower housings and have fans 8| rotatably mountingtherein, as illustrated in Figure 6. The other ends of the shafts 18, 19and 50 have pulleys 82, 83 and 89 keyed thereon intermediately thedepending portions of the supports 53, 54 and 56 and the blower housings|2, 13 and 1B.

The upper portions of the vertical supports 53, `54 and 56 have stubshafts 85, 86 and 81 rotatably mounted in openings provided adjacent thetops thereof. 'Ihe stub shaft 85 has pulleys 30 and 89 mounted forrotation therewith on eitherv f' The stub shaft 86 `has pulleysstantially smaller pulley 95 is positioned between the pulleys 94 and95. 'Ihe circumjacent beltr 91 connects the pulley 44 of the jackshaft,pulley 59 of the spanker t9 and pulley 92 of the stub shaft 81.The belt 98 connects the pulley 96 of the jack shaft and the pulley 'l0of the intermediate spanker Sil `The circumjacent belt 55 connects thepulley 95 of the jack shaft, pulley 'il of the'spanker 55, pulley 88 ofthe stub shaft 85, and the pulley 90 of the stub shaft 36. The pulleys89, 9| and 93 carried by the stub shaft 85, and 01 are connected to thepulleys 82, 83 and 84 of the blower fans 12, 13 and 'l by It may thus beseen that when rotation is imparted to the jack shaft 51 from the mainshaft 32 by the belt 5|, the rotary motion will be imparted through thevarious belt systems to the spankers, and to the blower fans rotatablydisposed in the blower housings 12, 13 and it.

The collector discs |03, |015 and |05 are carried by the frame and withthe open face thereof spaced from and opposed to the open faces of theblower housings, and the distance therebetween is suflicient to permit arow of vegetation to pass therethrough. The back sides of the collectordiscs are open except for the segmental webs |08, |01 and iB. The lowerends of the webs carry inwardly projecting spindles to which the fans|09 are rotatably mounted. The fans |09 include a hub member ||0 and aplurality of radially disposed blades i which have a screening ||2secured to their back edges and within the said collector discs. Theupper portions of the rear webs |06, |01 and |08 are formed with aninternally threaded boss into which is fitted the pendant open end ofpipes H3, H6, and H5. The open end of the pipes will communicate withthe interior of the collector discs between the the segment of the discsbelow the pipes and between the uppermost adjacent blades of the fan.

The forwardly projecting end of the main shaft 32 carries a fan H5rotatably mounted 'thereon forwardly of the vertical support 3| andenclosed by a suitable housing Ill. The housing 1 extends substantiallyforwardly ofthe fan, and the forward portion ||9 thereof is separatedtherefrom by a transverse closure screen ||8. The portion H9 of thehousing is formed with a forwardly extending auxiliary housing |20 whichreceives the upper ends of the pipes ||3, ||4 and"||5. An exhaust pipe|2| communicates at one end with the compartment H9 ofthe housing ||1and at its other end thereof with a suitable screened receptacle |22positioned at the rear of the frame l0.

The-transverse web |23 bridges the supports 23 and 24 and is formed witha vertically disposed bearing support |24. The stub shaft |25 Y-isrotatably mounted in an opening provided adjacent the top of the bearingsupport |22.

The end |26 of the shaft |24 has bevelled gear |21 keyed thereon andadapted to enmesh with the bevelled gear |28 carried by the outwardlyextending end of the main shaft 32. The other end of the stub shaft |25has the pulley |29 mounted thereon and adapted to be connected to thepower shaft of a tractor.

Avertically disposed plate |30 is carried by the opeiators platform 45and a plurality of spaced arcuately positioned apertures |3| areprovided therein. The hand lever |32 is pivotally attached to the plate|30 at substantially the middle thereof and is formed with an angularly.u 1 arm |33, the end of which is bifurcated to embrace the inwardlyextending bracket |34. The hand lever |32 maybe manually angularlypositioned by inserting pins in adjacent openings |3| of the plate III-and because of the pivotal connection of the bars I4 with the frame theforward end of the said frame may be raised lar lowered by ansularlyadjusting the handle The operation of my device is as follows:

If the apparatus is to be horse-drawn the animals are attached to thetongue I1 in the conventional manner, and the. device is drawn throughthe field to be treated with the front wheels 2| and rear wheels oneither side of .a row of vegetation. When -positioned in this manner,the blower fan 13 and collector disc I|I4 will face opposite sides ofthev middle row and the blower fans 14 and 12 and collector discs |33and HB5 will be disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent rows ofvegetation.

It may thus be seen that the device is adapt A to simultaneously treatthree rows of vegetation.

VWhen the device is horse drawn the engine is used to impart rotation tothe main shaft 32 throughA the belt 48 and the operator on the seat 41|may manually actuate the hand lever 44 to engage and disengage theclutch faces and 31 on the pulleys 33 and 36. When the handle 44 ismoved forwardly, the bifurcated arms and 4| of the lever 38 will movethe pulley 35 longiv tudinally along the main shaft 32 and willtherefore move the clutch face 31 thereof into engagement with theclutch face 35 to impart rotation to the main shaft 32. When the mainshaft is rotating, the generator will be actuated'to supply electricpower to the headlights 52 and the jack 'shaft 5l disposed therebelowwill be rotated by V will'be sumciently intense'to cause the rotation ofthe fans |109 rotatably mounted in each of the collector discs, and anyinsects resting on the plants will be blown from their position andimpinged against the screen member ||2 carried by the rotating fanblades IIIl of the fans |09. 1nasmuch as the screen is rotatable withthe fan blades, theinsec'ts will be held thereon by the blast of airgenoratedby the blower fans and wm be rotated to the uppermost-positionunder the lower ends of the suction pipes I I3, ||4 and ||5.V

When the main shaft 32 is actuated the fan IIB on the,y forward endthereof will rotatev therewith to create a strong suction in the suctionpipes H3, H4 and H5, and as the insects reach the uppermost'position inthe collector discs, the 4 segmental webs M6, |01 and |03 will stop theblast of air from passing through the screen ||2 and will create a backpressure thereon sumcient to release the insects and to permit thesuction formed in the pipes II3, ||4' and ||5 by fan IIB to draw theminto the housing |20. The `fan ||5 will then force them through. thepipe |2| and into the screened receptacle |22. The receptacle i22 issuiiiciently large to hold a large number ofthe insects,- and after ithas become suiiiciently filled, may be removed from the frame and theinsects disposed of in any desirable manner.

If the row of vegetation is sufficiently high to extend above the blowerfans, the tops thereof will be agitated by the blades of the slowlyrevolving spankers 3364 and E5, and any of the insect parasites restingthereon will be shaken therefrom and caused to fall into the blast ofair generated by the blower fans'. vThey will be carried by the blast ofair into the collector disc |35 and disposed of in the mannerhereinbeiore described.

When the device is adapted to be carried by a tractor, the rear wheelsare removed, and the pintles I5 are withdrawn to permit the release ofthe arms I4 and consequently the forward steering appurtenances in-theirentirety.

I have vconstructed auv angular frame |30' com'- prising spacedlongitudinally extending members |3I' and |32 having a plurality ofopenings |33' in the vertical web thereof to permit the same to bebolted, or otherwise secured, to the forward end of a tractor. The ends|34' and |35 of the members |3| and |32' are adapted to funderlie thelongitudinal braces 21 and 28 of the frame I0, and

, -a pair of laterally disposed braces |36 and |31 are connected to thesaid longitudinal members .by the transverse brace |38. The members |33and |31 underlie either side of the frame I0, and the forward ends ofthe supports |35 and |31 are joined to the longitudinal members bybraces |39 and |40. It may thus be seen that the device will besupported from the forward end of the tractor and that a belt may beconnected to the power shaft of the tractor and` to the pulley |29 toimpart rotation to the main shaft sz through v thebevelled gears |21 and|28. When the device is carried by a tractor, the clutch/on the main Arangement of parts may be resorted tn without departing from the spiritof my invention, or the .scope of the appended claims.

means torotate one of said fans to create a blast.7

of air transversely of the said row of vegetation to blow insect pestson the said vegetation into the other of the said fans, and means toremove the insects from the said last-mentioned fan.

3. An insect exterminatorcomprising a device adapted to simultaneouslystraddle a plurality of adjacent rows of growing vegetation, havingblowers on one vside of the said rows of vegetation, means to drive theblowers to create a blast of air transversely ofthe said rows, and a re-4. An insect exterminator comprising a devicev adapted to simultaneouslystraddle a plurality of adjacent rows of growing vegetation, havingblowersV on one side of the said rows 'ot vegetation, means to drive theblowers to-create a. blast of air transversely of the said rows, areceiving receptacle opposed to the said blowers and on 5 the oppositeside of the rows of vegetation to accommodate insects blown 'from thevegetation by the said blowers, suction means connected to the saidreceiving receptacles, anda container communicating with the saidsuction means to 10' hold the insects drawn from the receivingreceptacles by the said suction means.

5. An insect exterminator comprising a device adapted to simultaneouslystraddle a plurality o! adjacent rows of growing vegetation, having 215blowers on one side of the said rows of vegetation, means to drive theblowers to create a blast of air transversely of the said rows, areceiving receptacle opposed to the`said blowers and on the oppositeside of the rowsof vegetation to 20 accommodate insects blown from thevegetationl by the said blowers, suction means connected to the saidreceivingA receptacles, a container -communicating with the said suctionmeans to hold the insects drawn from the receivingrreceptacles 25 by thesaid suction means, and spankers disposed above the said rows ofvegetation to agitate the same to dislodge the insects in a manner tocause them to fall into the said transverse blast of air.

6. In an insect exterminator comprising a dev vice adapted to straddle agrowing row of vegetation. the combination of opposed fans disposed onopposite sides of the said row, means to rotate the said fans to createa blast o! air transversely of the said row, screen means carried by androtatable with one of the fans to hold insects im pinged thereon by vthesaid blast of air, and a suction means communicating with the saidlastmentioned fan to draw the said insects from the said screen means.

"I. Anv insect exterminator comprising, opposed fans on opposite sidesof a row of vegetation, means to rotatelone of said fans to create ablast air transversely of the said row of vegetation to blow insectpests on the said vegetation into the other of said fans, screen meanscarried by the' said last-mentioned fans to hold the insects impingedthereagainst, and suctionmeans to remov the insects from the said screenmeans.

LEONARD S. WEBB.

